Geranium plant named `Kleleny`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named `Kleleny`, characterized by its numerous reddish purple-colored flowers with distinct white &#34;eye&#34;, upright, compact, uniform and rounded plant habit; freely branching, dense and bushy habit; and dark green leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Kleleny.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new cultivars with good cuttingproduction, uniform and freely branching plant habit, and interestingflower colors.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross made by the Inventory ofthe proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection identified as Zi 099 asthe male, or pollen parent, with the proprietary Pelargonium×hortorumselection identified as Zi 105 as the female, or seed parent. Thecultivar Kleleny was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Stuttgart, Germany in 1993 .

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atStuttgart, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this new ZonalGeranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Kleleny`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Kleleny` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Numerous reddish purple-colored flowers with a distinct white "eye".

2. Upright, compact, uniform and rounded plant habit.

3. Freely branching, dense and bushy growth habit.

4. Dark green leaves.

Compared to the parent selections, the new Zonal Geranium has a moreuniform plant habit and a distinct white flower "eye".

Compared to plants of the sibling cultivar, Klelesmo (U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 09/250,005 filed concurrently herewith), flowers ofplants of the new Zonal Geranium are redder in color and have a moredistinct white "eye".

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of `Kleleny`. Flowerand foliage colors in the photograph may appear different from theactual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Kleleny has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Stuttgart,Germany, under commercial greenhouse conditions.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Kleleny.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection Zi 099, notpatented.

Female parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection Zi 105, notpatented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to develop roots.--About 18 to 20 days.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.--Upright, uniform and rounded; compact; vigorous;freely flowering.

Crop time.--About 85 days are required to produce a finished floweringplant from a rooted cutting.

Growth and branching habit.--Rapid growth rate; vigorous; freelybranching with about four to five stalks with about two to three stemseach. Removal of terminal apices (pinching) is usually not required.

Plant height.--About 15 to 18 cm.

Stem length.--About 7 to 11 cm.

Internode length.--About 1.5 to 2 cm.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant,opposite, smooth. Shape: Mostly rounded with weakly crenated margin.Color: Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 137A. Fully expandedfoliage, lower surface: 137D. Zonation: 176B with 148A; occasionallyfaint. Petiole length: About 4 to 6 cm.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Reddish purple-colored flowers with distinctwhite "eye". Very freely and continuously flowering. Flowers arranged inumbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels initially hemispherical,becoming spherical in shape. Umbels displayed above or beyond thefoliage. Flowers semi-double. Umbels persistent.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In thegarden, flowering is continuous from spring through summer.

Quantity of inflorescences.--Typically about 2 to 3 umbels per lateralstem with about 85 to 95 umbels per plant forming during the floweringseason.

Lasting quality.--Flowers last about 14 days on the plant and about 3days as cut flowers.

Fragrance.--None.

Umbels.--Diameter: About 10 cm. Height: About 10 cm.

Flowers.--Quantity per umbel: About 25 to 30. Diameter: About 6 cm.Shape: Cup-shaped.

Flower buds.--Length: About 2 cm. Diamter: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Ovoid.

Petals/petaloids.--Quantity: About 5 to 7 petals and about 2 to 4petaloids. Arrangement: Imbricate. Shape: Broad with rounded apex andentire margin. Texture: Soft, satiny. Color: Fully opened, uppersurface: 66B; with white eye. Fully opened, lower surface: 72B; withwhite eye. Petaloids: 72B.

Sepals.--Quantity: About five. Shape: Elongated, pointed. Angle:Upright. Color: Outer surface: 147A. Inside surface: 147B.

Peduncle (umbel stem).--Length: About 2 cm. Strength: Moderate. Angle:Mostly upright. Color: Brownish purple to green.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamens: Typically five or six. Anthersize: About 1.5 to 2 mm. Anther color: Orange. Filament length: About 5to 6 mm. Filament color: White. Pollen color: Orange. Gynoecium:Pistils: Typically one with four or five branches. Style length: About 5to 6 mm. Style color: Green. Stigma color: Purple.

Seed.--Length: about 3 to 4.5 mm. Color: Brown.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance to pathogenscommon to Zonal Geraniums has not been observed.

Weather tolerance: Flowers of plants of the new Zonal Geranium have beenobserved to be tolerant to wet and hot conditions.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named `Kleleny`, as illustrated and described. 